New Delhi, February 6: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim protection to officials of Discovery Communications India, who have reportedly been facing threats following the release of the documentary series "Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu." A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan instructed police authorities in at least seven states to ensure the safety of the channel’s officials and its properties.
This decision came after a petition filed by Discovery Communications India and its senior staff members, who are located in various states across the country. The broadcaster, which aired the documentary on self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, revealed that several hate messages were received on social media targeting the channel and its staff.
The channel's legal counsel informed the bench that the petitioners were finding it increasingly difficult to travel freely across India due to the ongoing threats. The bench acknowledged the difficulties petitioners may face in approaching individual High Courts in different states where their staff are based and issued notices to the Central Government, as well as authorities in Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
The bench ordered, “Issue notice returnable in the week commencing 3rd March 2025. In the meantime, we request the police authorities to ensure that the petitioners can use their offices and that no physical harm or threats are extended to them."
The petitioners explained that the documentary was created based on public records, court orders, and witness testimonies. Following its release on the OTT platform Discovery+, they claimed to have been targeted with threats from groups that identified as supporters of Asaram Bapu.
The petition described the documentary, stating, “The series explores the life of Asaram Bapu, a self-proclaimed spiritual leader serving a life sentence for crimes, including rape and murder, since 2018. It presents factual insights derived from public records, witness statements, and judicial documents.”
The protection was sought in response to threats and criminal intimidation from individuals claiming to be followers of Asaram. On January 30, a mob gathered outside Discovery’s Mumbai office, causing a disturbance. While the police dispersed the crowd, no action was taken against the individuals involved. Asaram, currently imprisoned for rape, is on bail for medical reasons.
